Overseas Service 18. Sir Michael Neubert To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are currently serving on duty outside the United Kingdom; and in which principal locations. Mr. Hanley On 1 April 1993, the number of United Kingdom regular forces serving overseas was 70,436. The main locations were: Continental Europe (including former Yugoslavia)CyprusElsewhere in the Mediterranean, near east and GulfHong KongElsewhere in the far eastand Gibraltar.